UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan stressed on Tuesday that United Nations’
peace-keeping forces will be in Timor Lorosae till independence. He said
the security situation in the country was still not normal yet.

Annan said the militia, operating at Timor Lorosae’s border with West
Timor, were still waging an armed struggle to re-integrate Timor Lorosae
with Indonesia.

“The situation is still not normal,” said Annan in his report to
the UN Security Council, when recommending that 8,162 PKF personnel remain
in the country till a new administration is established.

Though militia attacks have been at low-intensity, Annan said the
militia was involved in illegal border trade and this provided them with
intelligence information on Timor Lorosae.

“The entire militia has not been destroyed and they could be, again,
a reckonable force,” said the Secretary-General.

Annan said the militias were seeking sanctuary in the refugee camps in
Indonesia-controlled West Timor.

The secretary-general told the Security Council that Indonesia had
failed totally in its obligations, as stated in last year’s Security
Council resolution, to fully disarm the militia.

The General Co-ordinator of CPD-RDTL Antonio Aitahan Matak yesterday
rejected allegations that the group was behind the threats against CNRT
President Xanana Gusmao.

In an official letter, which was obtained by STL, Aitahan Matak said
CPD-RDTL cadres never had any intentions to harm Xanana because they were
all Catholics. He added CPD-RDTL was the victim of a vicious false
propaganda campaign.

“This is false propaganda intended to destablize the country,” said
Aitahan Matak.

But in the letter, CPD-RDTL accused several high-level political
leaders, in the country, and FDTL Commander Brigadier-General Taur Matan
Ruak as being opportunists.

The politicians named in the letter are: Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta,
Minister for the Economy Mari Alkatari and PSD President Mario Carrascalao.

Aithan Matak also wanted two CPD-RDTL activists, arrested in connection
to an attempt against Xanana’s life recently, to be released by Civpol.

“The two activists, currently in jail, are innocent. The real
culprits are roaming the streets spreading false propaganda and they are
not arrested,” added Aitahan Matak.

Partai Asosiacao Social Democrat Timor (ASDT) will this week try to get
itself registered with the Independent Election Commission. They intend to
use Fretilin symbols and the party’s political ideology.

This was stated yesterday by ASDT President Francisco Xavier do Amaral
in an interview with STL at his residence in Lecidere.

“As an old man, and all this time, I had been waiting for them [Fretilin
central committee] to unite Fretilin. But sadly till now nothing has been
achieved. Because of that, I have decided to form the ASDT Party which
will take part in the 30 August elections,” said Xavier Amaral.

Xavier Amaral said he had already made preparations to register the
party with the Election Commission.

“I am psychologically prepared for registering ASDT and we will
defend the 28 November 1975 Unilateral Declaration of Independence,”
said Xavier Amaral.

Xavier Amaral also urged Fretilin leaders to unite, and then register
the party with the Election Commission after a declaration of unity had
been made.

Xavier Amaral warned that if this was not done Fretilin would be split
into two or three factions.

“If Fretilin is united, I will surrender all my power to the party. A
united Fretilin will be the bridge to this country’s independence,” he
said.

The main principle of the Social Democrat Party (PSD) will be to
educate the Timorese people on democracy, freedom and legal rights.

This was stated yesterday by the PSD Deputy President Leandro Issac.

Leandro Issac gave his reasons on why the main principle was emphasized
by his party.

“Why do we stress on democracy? This is because we can prevent
conflicts and violence through proper awareness of democratic principles.
We want to prevent what happened after the 30 August 1999 popular
consultation.”

“At the popular consultation the losing party did not respect the
democratic process. So they resorted to arms and started killing their own
friends and destroying property,” added Leandro.

Leandro said democracy education was still in its fledgling stage in
the country.

“When we talk about democracy, it just doesn’t mean stringing a
banner with democratic slogans across the road. It’s more than that.
When we talk about democracy we have to relate it to the daily lives of
the people ­ how they relate to the whole democratic process. We have to
conscientize everyone.”

5. National Media Still ‘Preaching’ From the Top (Timor
Post, Page 2 lead)

The news dissemination of national media in the country is still from
the top to the people. This, said participants at a workshop organized by
InterNews, was a legacy left behind by the Indonesians.

The participants warned that this process could alienate the ordinary
people and thus cause them to distrust local media.

Jose Luis from Yayasan Hak said the local media needed editorial
policies that allowed the voices of the ordinary people to be heard.

Jose Luis said this was important as the country was heading towards
the 30 August election.

“We often find that information about the people is lacking in the
local media. Their voices are not heard. We want to know whether the
people are ready for the elections; whether they are still traumatized;
whether they want to be members of a particular political party; whether
they know that the elections this time is to select people for the
Constituent Assembly?’ asked Jose Luis.

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